Hannah's book blog. This is my place where I share my favourite reads and chat about books.

Month: October 2016

Alexandra’s life is an ongoing rollercoaster of love, light and fun. But just one point of weakness at the highest peak, is all it takes to plunge her into a darkness which stops her world turning. And because she’s not the only one to blame for its sudden halt, she has no way of knowing if it will ever turn again.

When past connections become the ties that harm, Alexandra’s worst nightmare becomes an unwanted reality that, regardless of the strength of the ties that bind, will test her to the absolute limit.

In this story of betrayal, revenge and deceit, we meet the people in Alexandra and Gabriel’s wider circle of family, friends and colleagues.

But who among them has a secret to hide?

Who has a confession to make?

Who has a past to repair and who will survive the Ties That Harm?

My Thoughts:

Having read Elaine’s previous novel Ties That Bind, I was more than happy to accept an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book follows on from the first book where you get to meet all the characters and find out their background. I loved Alexandra and Gabriel, they go through a lot together but still manage to come out the other side stronger than they were before.I thought little Vincent was a brave young character and I can’t believe how much he has to go through. The story is a gripping one with quite a few twists that I didn’t see coming. The ending leaves you wanting more and I am sure that is what the reader will get with the next book, I know for a fact I cannot wait.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

When Jo Coulson finds herself single again in her late thirties, she finally resigns her membership to Last of the Hopeless Romantics, fully intending to tackle midlife and motherhood alone. First, she plans one legendary last fling…

In walks Harry Inchbold, and the connection is electric. Passionate, unpredictable and messily divorced, Harry is the perfect antidote to cosy coupledom. Known as The Sinner, drama follows him around with a clapper board.

Harry’s favourite holiday hideaway in the wilds of South Shropshire puts the mud and fun into the perfect dirty weekend. But at the cottage Harry reveals a very different side, melting Jo’s resolve. What better combination to face an uncertain future than two cynics who have learned from their mistakes?Together they make a pact; ‘same time next year’; they can promise no more than that.

Through life’s most stressful decade, Harry and Jo return to the Shropshire hills for one weekend each year to rediscover passion and make peace. As career, family and home crises all threaten to bring them unstuck, the cottage is their glue. Here, different rules apply: the day to day world is not allowed to intrude.With Harry and Jo, however, it’s only a matter of time before rules get broken. As real life gets increasingly complicated, can they keep renewing their promise?

My Thoughts:

I received this book for an honest review. I really enjoy Fiona’s books they always leave me feeling comforted. The two main characters in this story are Harry and Jo and it is about what happens to a relationship over time and how it changes. It may be a predictable ending but I enjoyed going on Jo and Harry’s journey nether the less. A nice easy read that you will not want to put down.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

Everyone has a story . . . but will they get the happy ending they deserve?

Emilia has just returned to her idyllic Cotswold hometown to rescue the family business. Nightingale Books is a dream come true for book-lovers, but the best stories aren’t just within the pages of the books she sells – Emilia’s customers have their own tales to tell.

There’s the lady of the manor who is hiding a secret close to her heart; the single dad looking for books to share with his son but who isn’t quite what he seems; and the desperately shy chef trying to find the courage to talk to her crush . . .

And as for Emilia’s story, can she keep the promise she made to her father and save Nightingale Books?

My Thoughts:

What a superb read. Veronica Henry is one of my favourite authors and when I saw this book out I knew I had to read it. You get to meet some interesting characters along the way in this book and learn a little about each one of them. This is a friendly and affectionately tale of everyday life in the Cotswold Village of Peasbrook, I couldn’t put the book down it gripped me right from the start. Veronica Henry has written a brilliant book here and I think it has to be one of my favourites of hers.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

Dancing in the Rain Happiness comes when you least expect it When Rachel Simpson’s boyfriend, Drew, suggested they should take a break, she thought he meant together, so she rented a holiday cottage in the picturesque village of Hideaway Down for the perfect, autumn getaway surprise.

Except she was the one who got the surprise and now she is spending a week alone in a cottage by the sea. Not quite the fun, romantic break she was hoping for. Lucas Webb needs to get his act together – or so his friends keep telling him.

He’s been like a bear with a sore head since his girlfriend dumped him… and that was several months ago. Perhaps a change of scene is what he needs. At least he still has Monty, his beloved dog… and a break by the sea will probably do them both some good.

Is it simply bad luck that this is one of the wettest, windiest autumn weeks since records began? Or does the universe work in mysterious ways?

My Thoughts:

I have always enjoyed Emily’s books and this was a fantastic read too. This is book four of the Hideaway Down series, you can read it as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading the previous books as you can meet all the characters and you get a little bit of a background with them. Returning to Hideaway Down was like meeting friends that you haven’t seen for a while and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. It is a really well written book and put together book. I even took this book on holiday with me and when two ladies asked me what I was reading, I was happy to recommend this book and all of Emily’s previous novels as they are just brilliant.

If you would like to purchase your copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Marriage isn’t for everyone – something that Zoe and Jack discovered only after they’d walked down the aisle. Bad timing, huh? So now they’re stuck together in their once harmonious marital home, neither one of them willing to move out of their lovely house.

With Zoe’s three sisters always wanting a say, and Jack’s best friend trying his best to fix things between them, misunderstandings arise. Tempers flare. ‘Accidents’ happen…

Zoe and Jack are going to be lucky if they’re still alive when the twelve months are up. But maybe things aren’t quite as final as they seem?

My Thoughts:

I was given an advanced copy of this book but I waited till recently to read it as I wanted to take a funny book on holiday with me. I really didn’t enjoy this one, I read till halfway and gave up. I found Zoe quite irritating and very immature. I was hoping something would happen but unfortunately it did not. Even though I hate giving up on a book I just knew that would have to be the case in this book. This is my opinion of the book but other people may love it.

If you would like to purchase the book, please click on the link below:

One ordinary morning, Norah Wells walked out of her house on Willoughby Street and never looked back. Six years later, she returns to the home she left only to find another woman in her place. Fay held Norah’s family together after she disappeared, she shares a bed with Norah’s husband and Norah’s youngest daughter calls Fay ‘Mummy’.

Now that Norah has returned, everyone has questions. Where has she been? Why did she leave? And why is she back? As each member of the family tries to find the answers they need, they must also face up to the most pressing question of all – what happens to The Mother Who Stayed when The Mother Who Left comes back?

My Thoughts:

I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. After reading Virginia’s previous novel What Milo Saw I was intrigued to read this one. This was a brilliant read with lots of twists and turns. I liked the fact that the chapters were short but also because each chapter was by a different person which kept it fresh but also I wanted to read on to find out what happened to each person. I really enjoyed this quirky tale of a very unusual family.

If you would like to pre-order your copy, please click on the link below:

When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.

Yet James couldn’t resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly nursed Bob back to health and then sent the cat on his way, imagining he would never see him again. But Bob had other ideas.

Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other’s troubled pasts.

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t help sharing this picture of Bob and James together. How sweet are them to together? I decided to read this book as a change from the books I normally read. This was a cracking little read that didn’t require too much of my attention. Having a cat myself and hearing all about Bob from people that had read this book I was excited to read it. What a lovely cat Bob is and James is such a lovely, caring person for taking him on. They are definitely friends for life. A lovely heart warming easy read that you will not want to put down.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below: